Larabars

If you’re anything like me, chances are you crave a little something sweet at the end of every meal. I don’t care how stuffed I am. It doesn’t have to be much; a bite or two is enough to keep the cravings at bay.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with sweet bites that won’t compromise my healthy lifestyle too much. And since willpower in the face of baked goods isn’t my specialty, having just a bite of pie or ice cream just doesn’t suit me. Seriously, does anyone have just one bite?

These little babies are my solution. No, they’re not as beautiful as a piece of pie, but they’re beautiful for your hips. Similar to my Homemade Larabars, which have been one of the most popular posts on my site to date, these treats are based off a mix of nuts and dried fruit. Not only have they made a great treat at the end of a meal, but I’ve found that tossing a few in a zip-top bag and taking them to work helps keep hunger at bay, too.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got packing, work and traveling to do! Will the packing and traveling ever end?! Thankfully my plans for the weekend are on the low-key side. And I couldn’t be more excited. See you Monday!

These little bites are sweetened naturally thanks to prunes and cashew or peanut butter. They will be slightly sticky, but not to worry. That’s how they are supposed to be. They moisture from the prunes and nut butter will keep them most for up to a week or two when stored in a zip-top bag.

Instructions*Place the prunes, nut butter, ground cinnamon and pumpkin butter, if using, in the bowl of a food processor. Process until ingredients form a paste, about 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.*Add in the cereal and process until all ingredients are well combined.*Roll into balls by heaping tablespoons and store in a zip-top bag.

A couple weeks ago after a trip to Florida, I wrote about healthy eating strategies for traveling. And since J. lives in Illinois, it seems like I spend a whole lot of time traveling, eating on the go, and trying my best to stick to a healthy eating schedule. Not an easy thing to do!

Larabars have fast become one of my favorite nutrition bars, and it takes only a quick look at the ingredient list to know why. Most contain only four or five ingredients and absolutely nothing hard to pronounce. But as much as I love Larabars, I find it hard to justify shelling out $2.50 a bar when I can make them at home.

Cue the Homemade Larabar.

A base of dates and prunes keep these bars chewy and moist, while nuts and peanut butter provide healthy fat to keep you full and satisfied. If you’re adverse to prunes, swap them out for another favorite dried fruit, like apricots, cherries, or cranberries. And if peanut butter isn’t your thing, give another nut butter, like one made with almonds or walnuts, a try – or maybe even Nutella if you’re feeling decadent.

Anyone else have a favorite nutrition bar they go to when on the road?

Instructions*In a food processor combine all ingredients and pulse until nuts and fruit are finely chopped and begin to come together in a paste, about 1 to 2 minutes. *Remove ingredients from food processor and press into an 8×8-inch foil-lined baking pan or dish. *Refrigerate overnight or freeze for 30 minutes before cutting into bars of desired size. I cut mine smaller to serve as snacks between meals, but you can cut them into larger bars to serve as a meal replacement, too.